India for more trade centres with Myanmar

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) India will suggest opening of two more trade centres in Nagaland and Mizoram with Myanmar during trade and investment talks beginning Oct 15, officials said here Monday.Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh will head a delegation for the talks in Mandalay, the economic and spiritual hub of Myanmar.

“India will take up the issue of expanding trade centres along the 1,600-km India-Myanmar border. At present, Moreh in Manipur is the only operational trade centre on the border,” said the commerce ministry in a statement.

The two-day talks will see India proposing to open two more trade centres - at Avangkhu in Nagaland and Zowkhathar in Mizoram, a long-standing demand of the two states.

India’s exports to Myanmar in 2007-08 amounted to about $185 million, and imported items worth around $810 million from the neighbouring southeast Asian nation.

The Indian minister will also inaugurate Oct 16 the Centre for Enhancement of IT Skills in capital Yangon, set up with an Indian assistance of $2 million. To be run by Indian professionals, this is equipped to train 1,000 youths annually, the ministry said.